One of the most popular attractions at the Fermanagh County Show was the Food Pavilion.
Many of those attending the show came hungry as they prepared to sample some of the delectable delights on offer.
There was a good show of Fermanagh-based businesses as well as those from around the island of Ireland with a few new faces entering the food hall at the Show for the first time.
Victoria Brady, of Victoria Rose Strawberries, was one of the new exhibitors at the Show. She enjoyed a steady turn as many people wished to admire and taste her luxurious strawberries.
Victoria displayed a range of flavours including some farming-themed strawberries and a “Barbie”-themed berry.
She sources all of her strawberries from Irish farms and explained her process to this newspaper.
She said: “My husband, Christopher, is always hard to buy for and I thought, ‘What about chocolate strawberries for Valentine’s?’ – because I used to work in a five-star resort in America and did them there, and I put it out on social media and they blew up!
“I have to temper the chocolate, and that is what takes time. For small orders, I will source locally, but for the show here, I sourced via Henderson’s and Keelings. They are all Irish strawberries here today.”
Other new exhibitors included the Curly Pigs from Tempo who won the award for Best Trade Stall in the Food Pavilion.
Their trade stand was busy throughout both days as many people wished to sample their goods.
One stall which had put in long hours of preparation was the Chocolate Guild which is operated by Jordan Carty and his partner, Tara.
“We finished up at half three last night [Thursday]; we made 200 boxes of brownies, and 500 truffles in two days,” said Jordan.
“We started on Wednesday morning until two in the morning, and yesterday we worked to half three.
“If all goes well, and we sell 70 boxes, we will hit our milestone of 1,500 boxes, and this is only our first year in business,” he added.
Traders from outside of Fermanagh included Ballylisk of Armagh who brought a taste of London to the show.
Owner Mark Wright explained that the company has strong connections to County Fermanagh through its supply to the Croft Farm Shop, which he was placed opposite at the show.
Its cheese is sold at luxury London department store Fortnum and Mason, and the signature triple cream cheese is featured in the highly sought after and easily distinguished Fortnum and Mason hamper.
Results were as follows.
Cookery
Soda Bread – 1. Valerie Byers ; 2. Eva Baxter ; 3. Mary McGurn
Wheaten Bread – 1. Pearl Howe, 2. Edith Humes ; 3. Eva Baxter
Sausage Rolls – 1. Ingrid Logan ; 2. Eva Baxter
Biscuits – 1. Dorothy Wilson; 2. Sarah Brown ; 3. Aine McQuaid
Queencakes – 1. Eva Baxter ; 2. Mary McGurn ; 3. Aine McQuaid
Traybakes – 1. Ingrid Logan ; 2. Eva Baxter ; 3. Megan Withers
Muffins – 1. Valerie Byers; 2. Anna Byers ; 3. Beverley Alcorn
Swiss Roll – 1. Violet Carrothers ; 2. Ingrid Logan ; 3. Aine McQuaid
Gluten Free Cake – 1. Carol Green ; 2. Victoria Wilson ; 3. Ingrid Logan
Homemade Sweets – 1. Ingrid Logan
Boiled Cake – 1. Valerie Byers ; 2. Edith Humes ; 3. Eva Baxter
Sultana or Cherry Cake – 1. Valerie Byers ; 2. William Holmes ; 3. Ingrid Logan
Marble Cake – 1. Hannah Byers ; 2. Ingrid Logan; 3. Eva Baxter
Lemon Drizzle Cake – 1. Ingrid Logan; 2. Edith Humes ; 3. Hannah Byers
Carrot Cake – 1. Megan Withers
Apple Tart – 1. Violet Carrothers ; 2. Mary McGurn 3. Megan Withers
Tart – 1. Clodagh Fee ; 2. Eva Baxter
Egg Sponge Fat Less Cake – 1. Eva Baxter ; 2. Ingrid Logan
Chocolate Butter Cake – 1. Clodagh Fee ; 2. Valerie Byers
Coffee Butter Cake – 1. Janice Thompson ; 2. Ingrid Logan; 3. Eva Baxter
Apple Crumble – 1. Roisin Fee; 2. Ingrid Logan ;
Decorated Flan – 1. Eva Baxter ; 2. Violet Carrothers
Trifle – 1. Ingrid Logan 2. Gillian Henderson; 3. Eva Baxter
Killyhevlin Afternoon Tea – 1. Eva Baxter ; 2. Ingrid Logan
Juvenile Cookery
Rice crispy buns – 1. Jack Wylie ; 2. Ellie Henderson; 3. Iona McKenzie
Decorated Pizza – 1. Eva Fowler ; 2. Jack Wylie 3. Ellie Henderson
Gingerbread Person – 1. Martha Thompson ; 2. Matthew Wilkinson
Five Brownies – 1. Ellie Henderson ; 2. Ella Wylie ; 3. Henry Elliott
Celebration Cake – 1. Ella Wylie ; 2 Eva Fowler
Muffins – 1. Murdo McKenzie ; 2. Henry Elliott ; 3. Ella Wylie
Preserves and Conserves
Strawberry – 1. Eva Baxter ; 2. Lorraine Birney ; 3. Violet Cassidy
Blackcurrant – 1. Lanny McAnernin; 2. Heather Noble ; Louie Lee
Raspberry – 1. Eileen Woods ; 2. Hazel McDonald ; 3. Violet Cassidy
Gooseberry – 1. Heather Noble ; 2 Fiona Plunkett 3. Lanny McAnernin
Rhubarb – 1. Violet Cassidy ; 2. Eva Baxter ; 3. Lorraine Birney
Marmalade – 1. Heather Noble ; 2. Hazel McDonald ; 3. Violet Cassidy
Jelly – 1. Valerie Byers ; 2. Elaina Blampied ; 3. Louie Lee
Fruit Curd - 1. Violet Cassidy ; 2. Eva Baxter
Relish – 1. Violet Cassidy 2. Hazel McDonald
Juvenile Class, Jam – 1. Ella Wylie.
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